Category Archives: Karl

This week saw the BBC accused of misleading viewers of their Frozen Planet series. Accusations from the Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, and Sun even cried ‘fake’. That wasn’t surprising, however, considering their typical view on the Beeb.

The scene in question features a mother polar bear and her new born cubs in their den, but the footage was filmed in a Dutch zoo, not the Arctic, as some disgruntled fans were expecting. They voiced their upset via Twitter:

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Hate the thought we were duped by Frozen Planet.Don’t like edges of journalism being blurred with tricks.Honesty in reporting is important

Their press office fired out the video (which had been available since early November) of the show’s producer talking about the birth of the polar bears in a Dutch zoo. The BBC said it was “some of the most endearing and revealing footage in the series”, not exactly words you’d imagine to be used on hidden, misleading or faked footage is it? Twitterers said no and saw through the criticism.

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Frozen Planet: BBC denies misleading fans bbc.in/sTWHyQ Well, I was always aware that sequences are done in studios or sanctuaries.

Nae wonder I Dinnae buy papers anymore with some of todays front pages. Shite journalism especially the mirror on trying to shame frozen planet. Maybe send journalist and editor on next trip and see the hard work that is done!

A lot of people felt very strongly about the situation and how the tabloids had tried to write off so much hard work, passion and incredible, never-seen-before footage of the natural world. Robert Hall articulated well what most seemed to be thinking.

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I am loving the fact that the public are seeing beyond the press reports about Frozen Planet being “fake”. It is easy for moronic journalists to sit behind their desk and write about how the BBC tried to “trick” us into believing the shots of the polar bear cubs birth and the freezing of the catapillar were real, but the reality is that filming either of those events in the wild would be damn near impossible. The truth is that they were showing us all how these things happen, and at no point did they say “everything you see in this is real and in the wild”. The purpose of the program was to educate people in what life in the polar regions is like, and I will DEFINITELY be buying the boxset.

But were viewers right to feel let down by the lack of clarity from the show and Attenborough?

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Apparently David Attenborough’s frozen planet, a polar bear giving birth was actually made out to be in the artic but was actually filmed in a zoo……GUTTED! I feel like I’ve just been told father Christmas isn’t real…..! <\3

The Mirror continued to slate the BBCdubbing more footage from the series a ‘sham’. This came after a BBC spokesperson confirmed that scenes featuring the freezing of a woolly caterpillar and the growing of ice and snowflakes were also filmed in controlled environments.

Mirror columnist and TV critic Jim Shelley lambasted the show by saying that Sir David “would be better to recognise that what he and the BBC did was duplicitous”, and ” clearly misleading”, which would leave viewers “disappointed to find out that Sir David is yet another TV presenter they cannot totally trust.”

The public were not biting, and Radio 1 DJ Maryanne Hobbs Tweeted a message in support of the Frozen Planet team.

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Frozen Planet critics – back off – Attenborough and his team are heroic, creating some of the most important & profound programming on earth

Out of all the publicity, both, good and bad, came a lot of support and a huge boom in tourism to the poles. It’s fair to say that penguins and polar bears are now definitely ‘cool’. Travellers are more eager than ever to get out and see amazing things, like those advertised in Frozen Planet.

The issue was continually raised leading up to Christmas with Attenborough in the limelight promoting his most recent film – The Bachelor King 3D. Whilst on Sky News the idea of the show misleading viewers was brought up again. Talking generally about wildlife film making Sir David said “Sometimes you will film one animal, then take another and cut the two together,” continuing, “Sometimes you film one scene this year and another scene next year.”

He really wanted to stress that “making natural history film is an art”, something, which maybe people forget. It’s about portraying a story accurately and if we want to see these processes as they really are, then maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to jump on, and challenge them when we are lucky enough to experience them.

Frozen Planet and its famous pretend Polar Bears spent their Christmas by receiving kudos, and sympathy, featuring in several reviews of the year. The Guardian’s Jonathan Jones closed out the story on Christmas day by summarising “That’s what the BBC gets for raising expectations.”

I’ve created a magazine article, which I think is aesthetically pleasing. I’ve used techniques learnt on previous tasks and have written the article in a way that takes a lot of the best bits from similar articles I researched, combined them and produced a unique and informative piece.

As it turned out, I didn’t end up giving my article a title as such, as I thought it wouldn’t fit the look and feel I was aiming for. It does exactly what it says on the tin – it’s a photographer profile piece on a photographer who has created his own trademark brand of constructed photography.

Today we were tasked with planning and developing our assignments further. I managed to get my list article Liverpool’s Top 10 Christmas Charms 2011 completely finished and submitted last week, so I have been able to concentrate on work for other modules. I was really happy with what I managed to achieve in such horrendous weather and came out with some fairly decent photos of Liverpool’s festive treats, which included Christmas markets, Paul McCartney, and plenty of shopping.

As the list article assignment is out of the way, I’ve been able to concentrate solely on my case study. I’ve come to a final decision on the title and have decided to go with ‘From Apple to Aardvark: An overview of the life and work of Andrew Zuckerman’. I think it expresses exactly what I am aiming present – a brief biography of where Zuckerman came from, what he has achieved, and the photographs he has created in doing so.

Below is some research consisting of links, photos and videos I have collected today, which will help me to put together a strong article.

I’m happy with what I’ve managed to put together in today’s class. I’ve collated some really useful resources that will make up the basis of my article, and I now need to crack on with writing and designing it.

So, your Christmas tree is up, you’ve sent all of your Christmas cards and you just can’t figure out what to do next? Here are 10 festive treats Liverpool has to offer you this Christmas.

Christmas is the time for joy and giving, but somehow we still seem to end up running around like headless turkeys and locking antlers over that one remaining super-toy that every child must have. If it’s not the kids then it’s the bumbling, drunk uncle dancing a jig and squawking his way through the annual Christmas playlist. Wouldn’t it be better if we could all just take the night off and enjoy some real Christmas cheer?

Liverpool has a packed winter calendar, so finding something to suit your tastes will be easy! How about a festive four course feast, a cup of tea with the Mad Hatter or a serenading from Paul McCartney? This Christmas list will help make your winter that extra bit warmer.

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1. Christmas LightsOn November 9th Liverpool’s Christmas lights were unveiled by 2010 X-Factor runner-up Rebecca Ferguson with an aptly dazzling show. Visit the city’s sparkling Christmas tree on Church Street and follow the lights as they lead you around the streets on a tour of some Europe’s best shopping.

2. Moroccan Market of HandicraftHead down to Whitechapel, next to the Met Quarter where you can experience some of the traditional arts and crafts of Morocco. A stunning range of products made by Moroccan artisans are available, such as handmade rugs, clothes, pottery and even herbs and spices.
Whitechapel, 9am-Late everyday. 24th Nov-22nd Dec.

3. Boutique Shopping at Met QuarterLiverpool’s Met Quarter is the perfect place to pick up that extra special gift. Showcasing high quality brands, like Illamasqua, Links London, Hugo Boss and a brand new Jack Wills store it’s great if you have a bit of extra cash lying around.
Whitechapel, open everyday with 7pm closing on Thursdays.

4. Christmas Markets and StallsWhat better way to spend a chilly winter’s evening than cruising through twinkling streets, tasting all the Christmas goodies on offer. A variety of cultural markets, stalls and tents from across the world are stocked with treats and stocking fillers aplenty
Lord St, Church St, Whitechapel, Paradise St.

5. Christmas in the ParkCheck out the enchanting array of attractions atop of Chevasse park in the Liverpool One complex. Visit Santa’s Grotto in the Ice Palace and enjoy some ice skating before warming yourself with a mince pie and hot cocktail in the Polar Bar.
Chevasse Park, Liverpool One. Nov 9th-Dec 24th.

6. Shopping at Liverpool OneLiverpool One, as the UK’s largest open-air shopping centre, has everything you could possibly want this Christmas, whether for yourself or that special someone. Be sure to pick up something unique for Christmas dinner at the Harvey Nichols pop-up food market.
Open 9am-9pm weekdays, 8pm Sat & 5pm Sun.

7. Christmas Dinner at Alma de CubaWhere better to eat Christmas dinner than in an old Catholic Church adorned with a floor to ceiling mirror and chandeliers made from antlers. It really has to be seen to be believed. Keep an eye out for the petal shower and Brazilian dancers. Book early not to miss out!
Prices between £30.95-£34.95.

8. Alice In Wonderland at Tate Liverpool
Take a journey into the obscure and twisted world of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Tate Liverpool hosts a selection of artworks by Carroll and several inspired pieces ranging from pop art to psychedelia. You’ll see stunning pieces from renowned artists such as Salvador Dalí and René Magritte.
Nov 4th – Jan 29th.

9. Albert Dock
Enjoy a day out at Liverpool’s Albert Dock. Start with a trip around the Beatles Museum before taking in the city’s top sights with Santa on the Yellow Duckmarine. Continue into the evening with a meal at Portico or Gusto before enjoying a few cocktails at Circo and a mulled wine at Vinea.

10. Paul McCartney at the Echo ArenaPaul McCartney brings his spectacular show ‘On The Run’ to a finale in his home town at the Liverpool Echo Arena. The 11 date tour has spanned the entire globe, with shows in Peru, Brazil, New York and now Liverpool. Bring the year to a close in style at this fantastic show.
Hospitality tickets £219 per person.

After returning from photographing as many of the above researched attractions as I could, I am now selecting the best attractions to go in to my top ten. I found the trip fairly hassle free, with the only real problem being a challenging gale-force wind and rain combo. That said, I think I’ve managed to get some pretty decent images and I’m looking forward to seeing them with put together with some text.

During today’s class we reviewed what we need to hand-in for both modules and recapped where we are individually regarding our assignments. I briefly spoke to Karl and clarified my ideas about the work I am yet to do on my list article and case-study pieces.

I now feel more comfortable about what is required for the list article assignment and have a good set of ideas, which I can start improving and setting out as a rough plan. At the moment, I am thinking of creating a list article along the lines of favourite festive foods or drinks, or attractions featuring in Liverpool this Christmas. This will inevitably develop depending on what I can achieve through my photography over the next few days, as we are required to illustrate the article with our own images.

As mentioned here in week 7, I have been looking at the work of Andrew Zuckerman recently and intend to create my case-study piece on him and his work. The layout will be a double-page magazine article profiling him by showing some of his images and talking about his past, present and future (if possible) works. I shall be researching relevant, and similar, articles for a better understanding of what content and layout I should be looking to include.

I am happy with how beneficial today’s class was for an informal session. I now have a much better idea of what I need to get on with and where I need to start.

Today’s class was focussed on preparing us for our case study assignment, which is due in after the Christmas break. We are required to create a 1200 word case study on fashion, advertising or portrait photographs and use InDesign to create a double-page article, which will house our case study. We’ll be able to illustrate the piece by adding relevant photographs and laying it out creatively, by using the tips we picked up in the Image and Text Layouts and Breaking the Grid tasks.

The case study will essentially be an analytical look at a collection of findings from a particular subject area. These findings can either be presented and examined academically or journalistically. If the approach is more journalistic, then the format will be slightly different and will follow the typical feature article format, as shown below.

Taking into consideration what we had looked at in our class, I then came up with some possible ideas for my case study and started developing them. I already knew that I wanted to base my article on photographer Andrew Zuckerman, so I thought about the different ways I could shape my thoughts on his work into a 1200 word article. Here are a selection of my better case study title ideas:

From Apple to Aardvark: An overview of the photography of Andrew Zuckerman.

A Man With Ideas: How Andrew Zuckerman went from cleaning darkrooms to defining wisdom.

I’m glad I’ve had the chance to think further about my ideas, and with a bit of work I’m sure I’ll come up with a solid plan as to where I want to go with my case study. Now I have a solid base to work from I’ll concentrate on fleshing out the article into the word count and studying the areas, which I think are important. I’m happy I’ve now started and am looking forward to getting back into InDesign to create something sleek and interesting.

As a side-note to this class we were also notified about the new layout of the list articles due to a change in how WordPress deals with slideshows.

In today’s Digital Journalism class we explored aspects of curating social media and news sources. Curating and archiving online news and social media is important because it is highly transient, which means that it can be modified, moved or deleted very quickly, making it difficult to track after the date it is first viewed. A key tool for curating social media sites, such as Twitter, Flickr, Facebook, Youtube, Vimeo and Instagram, is the website Storify. Using this tool you can search through recent activity on many social media sites, search engines and news sites to find out what is being published or said about a subject in real-time. Storify seems to be an incredibly powerful tool for curating information, with its simple drag and drop feature and impressive number of integrated sources. Obviously there are pitfalls and it could be improved with a more accurate search tool, but as long as I follow a few tips like these by Girl Journalist, then my two week long news story curation piece should go well.

During the class I was tasked with creating a short curation piece on a current news story to get to grips with Storify. You can see my piece on the protests in Tahir Square, Egypt here. I feel happy with how the class went and the work I have created. The main difficulty was ensuring that the items I was selecting were the most recent and up-to-date. I also found that Twitter was the best integrated into Storify, whereas Facebook would not return very accurate or reliable search results. The same goes for Instagram, which would only allow a one word search, making it very difficult to return accurate results. Another big problem which I faced, and will no doubt face during my big curation piece is copyright on images. I found it easy to find relevant images, but almost impossible to find relevant images with a creative commons licence. Other than these issues, I feel that I have ended up with some decent and informative results.

Today we examined magazine layouts, paying particular attention to the grid and how designers often ‘break out’ of the grid layout to create a more dynamic and visually entertaining article. Firstly, it is important to understand why grids are utilised when creating magazines. Grids ensure an aesthetically pleasing uniform design, which makes content easy to find, and therefore often promotes brand identity.

A designer might choose to break the grid to add emphasis to certain features, catch the viewers eye and stop the article from looking boring. Elements that are often used to spice up a layout by breaking the grid are headlines, box outs, photographs, call outs and diagrams.

We were asked to bring in a magazine to analyse, I chose Shortlist – a free men’s weekly, which often features tech, fashion, sports and other ‘manly’ stuff. I chose a page (which you can see below featuring an interview with Johnny Depp) and began to de-construct it from a design perspective.

I found that it followed, for the most part, a four column grid, which had a number of elements breaking out. Straight away you’ll notice that there are three images and a call out. The main image conforms the the vertical grid by strictly taking up the space of two columns and roughly a third of the page, although it does break over the top rule (black line). The smaller image to the right breaks over from the right-hand column onto the larger image and yet remains separated with a touch of drop shadow. The third image, at the bottom of the article, breaks through the margin and the bottom rule and then into the two left-hand columns. The image, once again, is made to stand out by using drop shadow and the text has been wrapped around the shape of the image, producing a very pleasing final look.

I was then tasked with re-creating the article myself using Adobe InDesign. I sincerely tried my best to reproduce the layout, look and feel of the article and I’m really proud of what I managed to achieve. I have learned a lot of little tricks along the way, from how to wrap text around an image (not its frame) to creating my own indent sizes and paragraph styles. I even got to test my Photoshop skills by creating the paint splattered ‘L’ and erasing the background from the captain Jack Sparrow image.

Overall, this task has been on my favourite so far. I’ve pushed myself to create the best possible article reproduction I can, and I think the only thing that maybe lets me down is the font…but I’ll blame that on Adobe. I’m really pleased with what I’ve learnt and added to my skillset.

Protesters have been gathering for days in Tahrir to demand that the military transfer power to a civilian government system, after they took control following the demise of Hosni Mubarak in February.

The violence began when, as stated in the Huffingtonpost “soldiers and police set fire to protest tents in Cairo’s Tahrir Square and fired tear gas and rubber bullets in a major assault” during the early hours of Sunday morning as seen in this footage from onetv1channel: